Power elevator for shaping machine work tables



May 29, 1934.

W. F. ZIMMERMANN POWER ELEVATOR FOR SHAPING MACHINE WORK TABLES Filed June 18, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4 mg 714m May 29, 1934. w. F. ZIMMERMANN 1,960,566

POWER ELEVATOR FOR SHAPING MACHINE WORK TABLES Filed June 18, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 2 May 29, 1934. w. F. ZIMMERMANN ,566

POWER ELEVATOR FOR SHAPING MACHINE WQRK TABLES Filed June 18, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Illllllll Hllllll lllll llll avweutoz 33x Sum mm; I W Ws /W Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER ELEVATOR FOR SHAPING MACHINE WORK TABLES Application June 18, 1931, Serial No. 545,259

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in power traverse and feed mechanisms for machine tools and more particularly concerns power traverse and feed devices for the work tables of shaping machines and metal cutting tools of similar or like nature.

It has for its primary object to provide a means for raising and lowering the work support by power, thereby to lessen the time normally required in setting up for a new operation and making it easier for the operator or attendant, by the elimination of all hand turning of the elevating shaft as has heretofore been customary. Ordinarily and especially in the larger sizes of machines, considerable energy and effort is required to lift the unbalanced weight of a shaping machine work-table and which is still further augmented in cases where heavy jigs, fixtures and work-pieces are clamped thereto, all of which increases the binding effect and kinking action of the rail and rail guides which has heretofore made the manual elevating means exceedingly difiicult to operate.

Another object of this invention is to arrange the power elevating means in a manner so as to afford a relatively rapid rate of movement of the table in either direction, as well as a variable and intermittent feed rate of movement when the occasion requires, and as a further refinement to provide independent controls for the various mechanisms and arranged such that the direction of table movement will be in the same direction that the control lever is operated. For example, in order to effect a movement of the table upwardly at a'rapid rate the elevating control lever is moved up and conversely, and if it is desired to move the table horizontally to the right or left the control lever for that train of mechanism is likewise moved to the right or left.

Still a further object of this invention is'to provide a machine with a power elevating means that may be taken from the same source of power that effects horizontal movements of the table and thereby to lower the cost of producing such a mechanism and to eliminate all need for auxi1- iary motors, change gears, etc., and the so called traverse attachments.

As yet no mechanism has been devised to permit the operator to effect this vertical movement in an intermittent feed rate with respect to reciprocaion of the arm, or in a constant or traverse rate whereby he may efficiently and easily elevate and lower the cross-rail. Nor have means been provided to adapt the vertical power drive to cooperate with the horizontal movements of the work-table in a manner permitting the two to be operated independently or simultaneously at either a traverse or an intermittent feed rate.

One construction has been to connect both the vertical and horizontal table actuating means with a source of power by gear shift mechanism whereby either the vertical or the horizontal traverse movements of the table could be separately, but not simultaneously, effected. Other constructions have provided similar arrangements except that a feed rate in place of a traverse movement was the objective in view. Such constructions were found to have certain disadvantages, e. g., the vertical and horizontal movements could not be operated at both an intermittent feed and a traverse rate, and furthermore no provision was made whereby either could be operated simultaneously or independently; and still further, no means were provided to enable the operator to independently reverse the direction of either one without changing or interrupting the direction of movement of the other.

This invention undertakes to overcome these disadvantages by providing independent reversing mechanisms giving the operator a degree of freedom and flexibility of control that has heretofore not been attained with respect to power means for moving shaping machine work-tables.

This invention further contemplates a detachable manual actuator common to each of the trains of mechanism above mentioned so that the operator may if desired effect movement of the table manually in any direction. The manual actuator is so arranged that it automatically disengages itself from the mechanism when the operator releases his grasp thereon and is retained in place upon the shaft until positively removed to another shaft by the operator.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that they may embody the same in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of whichz- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shaping machine embodying the present invention, indicating portions of the ram reciprocating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same mathe latter to and fro variable distances accordchine with the work-table removed and showing the rail elevating screw and the rail clamping mechanism. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the cross-rail, partly broken away, to

, show the gear transmission therein. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section of the connecting shaft leading from the feed box to the reversing means on the cross rail. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the clutch reversing mechanism, partly in section. Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the reversing mechanism for the vertical actuating means. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic View showing the entire transmission. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of manual actuating means common to each of the transmission mechanisms herein described.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the general features of the machine include a base or frame member 1, a ram 2 slidably mounted on guideways 3 provided by the upper portions of the frame. The ram 2 carries at its forward end a downwardly disposed cutting tool 4 adapted to engage a work-piece supported by a vertical and horizontally trans latable work-table 5. A cross rail 7 vertically adjustable upon ways 8 and 8 formed upon the face of the frame 1 is provided with horizontally disposed guideways 6 upon which the table 5 is supported. Power to reciprocate the ram 2 is provided by a prime mover such as an electric motor 9 or pulley 9 located at the rear of the machine and is transmitted through suitable gearing to a bull gear 10 which oscillates a rocker arm 11 by means of a pin 12 in the usual manher. The upper end of the rocker arm is connected by suitable linkage to the ram and moves ing to the particular setting of the pin 12 with respect to the axis of the bull wheel.

In order to transmit the power from the prime mover to the mechanism that positions the worktable both vertically and horizontally, a connecting shaft 13 leads from the ram reciprocating mechanism'and connects with a bevel gear rev'ersi'ng mechanism A that is associated with a horizontal feed screw 18 journaled in suitable bearings in the cross rail. Inasmuch as the hori-- zontal power feed and traverse mechanisms for the table, up to this point, is in all respects similar to the mechanism disclosed in my Patent No.-

1,665,398, a lengthy description and illustration thereof has been thought unnecessary. Sufiice it to say, however, that the control for the rotary movements of the connecting shaft 13, comprises the control lever 19; and it is to be noted that when the lever is moved to a position whereby thehandle portion extends toward the machine, the shaft 13 rotates at an intermittent feed rate in a timed relation to the reciprocations of the ram, whereas, when the handle is moved away from the machine, the'shaft rotates at a constant rate and in the opposite direction. 7

The bevel gear reversing mechanism A is designed to transmit rotary movement to the shaft 18 in'either forward or reverse directions in order that the work-table 5 may bemoved horizontally to the right or to the left as the operator desires. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the'bevel gearreversing mechanism includes a clutch spool 21 splined to the shaft 18, and shiftable by means of a shifting fork 22, pivotally mounted within a plate 23 that is removably secured upon a housing 24 attached to the cross rail. A hand lever 26 fixed uponthe shifting fork controlsthe positioning of the clutch spool. Secured to the forward end of the shaft 13 is a bevel gear 27 constantly in mesh with bevel gears 28 and 29 loosely mounted upon the shaft 18 and provided with clutch teeth 31 and 32 adapted respectively to engage complemental clutch teeth 33 and 34 formed on the spool 21. A unique feature of this device is that the gearing is so arranged that the position of the hand lever 26 indicates the direction of the horizontal feed movement of the work-table 5. In other Words, when the operator, as he faces the machine, moves the hand lever 26 to the left and the control lever 19 to the feed position whereby the connecting shaft 13 is rotated at an intermittent feed rate, the clutch spool 21 is shifted to the right, causing an engagement of the clutch teeth 33 of the spool with the clutch teeth 31 of the bevel gear 29. The work table 5 then moves to the left at an intermittent feed rate in a timed relation to the reciprocations of the ram. However, when he moves the lever 26 to the right, the clutch reversing spool 21 is shifted to the left disengaging the clutch teeth 33 and 31, and engaging the clutch teeth 34 of the spool with the clutch teeth 32 of the bevel gear 28, and the shaft 18 and the table connected therewith is caused to move in the opposite direction at an intermittent feed rate.

A novel safety and time saving feature is provided with respect to the control lever 19. As before explained, the direction of rotation of the shaft 13 is changed and its speed is changed from a feed to a traverse rate upon the shifting of the lever 19 away from the machine. Therefore, when the work. is completed, and the operator desires to stop the feeding movement and to clear the work-piece from the path of the cutting tool, all he need do is to shift the lever 19 to its traverse position whereupon the movement of the connecting shaft 13 is changed from a feeding rate to a traverse rate and in a direction opposite to the feed. Obviously, the actuation of the single control lever 19 not only saves operating time but eliminates the likelihood of improper operation wherein the operator might inadvertently cause the work-piece to move directly into the path of the cutting tool. v

One of the main featur s of this invention resides in themanner in which the raising and lowering of the cross rail and table is effected by power derived from the common actuating shaft 13. Fig. 3 illustrates one form of mechanism for accomplishing this purpose and in which a spur gear reversing mechanism B is illustrated for changing the direction of table travel, up, down, or stop, while traversing or feeding, as will now be explained. v

Starting with a gear '36 formed integral with the bevel gear 28 the power passes to a widefaced gear 3'? rotatably mounted upon a stub shaft 38 carried by a removable bracket 39. A cross shaft 41 journaled in suitable bearings in the cross rail, is driven by' power taken from the wide-faced gear 3'? by means of a double gear 42 splined upon the shaft ll. The double gear is provided with a groove 43 en ageable by a shifting lever 44 pivotally mounted within. the bracket and actuated by a control lever 46 mounted in a plate 4'7. The shiftable gear unit 42 is provided with gears 4.8 and 49 adapted respectively to engage with the wide-faced gear 3'7 and a gear 51 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 52 of the bracket. The gear 51 is also constantly in mesh with the wide-faced gear 37 and when the gear unit 42 is moved to the right, in Fig. 5, so as to mesh gears 48 and 37, the elevating'shaft 41 ro tates in one direction and by shifting the hand lever 46 in the opposite direction the gear 49 is caused to mesh with the gear 51 and the shaft 41 turns in the reverse direction; and when control lever '46 is moved to in an intermediate or horizontal position, the double gear unit 42, is disengaged from both of the gears 37 and 51 and no rotary movement of the shaft 41 takes place. So that the rotation of the shaft 41 is caused to elevate or lower the cross rail, the inner end thereof is provided with a bevel gear 53which is constantly in mesh with a bevel gear 54 formed integral with an elevating nut 56 rotatably journaled in the cross rail. A stationary vertical screw shaft 57 has a threaded engagement with the nut 56 and when the latter is rotated a relative axial movement between nut and screw takes place which effects movement of the table vertically. Conventional thrust bearings are provided for carrying the vertical thrusts of the cross rail.

With respect to the vertical movement only, the traverse rate is used more often than the feed, and it is preferred therefore that the control lever 46 be arranged to indicate the direction of vertical traverse rather than the feed. Conversely with the cross feed mechanism, the hand lever 26 is arranged to indicate the direction of the horizontal feed movement which is used more frequently than the rapid traverse. So when the elevating control lever 46 is pointing upward, the cross rail '7 will be rapidly elevated, providing the control lever 19 isin a position to effect a constant rotation of the connecting shaft 13; and in like manner, when the lever 46 is pointing downwardly the cross rail is operated at a rapid traversein that direction.

A safety device C is incorporated in the driving mechanism which protects the machine elements against excessive strains andstresses in the event that the table meets with an obstruction or reaches the limit of its travel before the operator disengages the drive, and which comprises a spring pressed sleeve member 0 which has a toothed connection 0 with the bevel gear 27. The shaft 13 is normally free to rotate within the gear 27, however, the sleeve member 0 being splined to the drive shaft and in engagement with the gear 27 transmits the rotary movement, to the latter. Adjusting nuts 0 are provided for varying the tension of the spring 0 thereby to increase or decrease the value of the resistance required to suspend the drive.

The direction as well as rate of table movement in the vertical direction may also be changed merely by shifting the rate and direction control lever 19 since it is the sole function of this lever, as hereinbefore explained, to change from rapid traverse to feed in reverse directions, and whether the subsequent gear sets are arranged to effect movement of the table horizontally and/ or vertically the shifting of the lever 19 effects a reverse movement thereof and also a change in the rate.

After the table and cross rail have been elevated to the desired position, means are provided for rigidly clamping the latter to the frame of the machine from the operator's side thereof, which comprise a shaft 58 translatably and rotatably journaled in bearings provided by the cross rail, and clamp bolts 64 and 66 located at either side of the vertical guides 8. One end of the shaft 58 is provided with worm teeth 61 which are adapted to engage worm wheel teeth formed upon a clamp nut 63; the other end of the shaftis provided with circular rack teeth 59 which are adapted to engage teeth of the pinion clamp nut 62. Thus as the shaft is rotated by means of a wrench applied to the squared end 68, the clamp nut 63 is actuated and when it begins to tighten the shaft 58 moves axially thereby rotating the nut 62 and drawing that side of the rail tightly against the ways. In this manner the clamps are equalized in their action and the rail becomes securely clamped at both sides without the necessity of the operator leaving his position at the operating side of the machine.

In addition to the clamp bolts 64 and 66, auxiliary bolts 65 passing through the straps 65 and into the cross rail serve to support and guide the rail during its movement from one position to another. It is essential that the guideways on the frame and cross rail be so designed that there is no kinking action or binding when the clamp bolts are released and to this end widely spaced guides 8 and 8 are provided for taking the vertical thrusts and relatively narrow, and closely spaced guides 8 are provided for maintaining the table and rail in vertical alignment whereby free and easy movement of the rail in either direction may be effected.

The gear trains, above described, are also arranged so as to permit fine adjustments in the horizontal and vertical positioning of the table to be made by manual means and to this end the shafts 18 and 41 are provided with toothed ends 69 and '71 respectively, which are adapted to fit an improved crank handle now to be explained.

Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 8 illustrate the improved actuator in place upon the horizontal feed shaft 18, and which comprises a handle portion and a tubular portion '76 that fits within a central bore formed in the shafts 18 and 41. Referring to Fig. 8, it will be noted that one end of the tubular member '76 is provided with clutch teeth 7'? which are adapted to engage complemental clutch teeth 78 formed on the ends of the shafts 18 and 41. A spring pressed plunger '79 is fitted within the tubular portion 76 and exerts a force, against the end wall of the central bore formed in the feed shafts, sufficient to disengage the clutch teeth 77 and 78 whenever the operator releases the lever 75, and consequently when the power feeding or traversing mechanism is in operation the lever 75 remains stationary.

So that the safety handle does not fall off of the shaft, detent means such as the spring pressed pin 80, supported in a collar 81 carried by the cross feed shaft, engages an annular groove 82 formed upon the external surface of the tubular portion 76 intermediate its ends. The groove is so dimensioned as to permit suificient axial movement of the crank handle for engaging and disengaging the clutch teeth without falling off of the shaft. A further movement of the handle outwardly, forces the detent out of the groove 82 so that shank portion '76 may thereafter be easily withdrawn and inserted in another shaft.

A graduated cup member or dial 83 is impositively mounted upon the feed shaft 18 and normally rotates therewith and serves an an indicator for the amount of cross feed. The dial may be adjusted relative to the shaft 18 at any time thereby simplifying the calculations of the operator in effecting a predetermined movement of the table so that the tool 4 may out exactly to the point required.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so teristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims:-

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of United States:

1. In a shaping machine having a frame, a tool carrier reciprocably mounted thereon, power means for reciprocating said carrier, a cross rail translatably mounted on said frame for movementtoward or away from the plane of 'movement of said carrier, and a work support carried by said rail and adapted for translation therealong; a main power shaft, means for selectively giving to said shaft forward and reverse rotations at high and low speeds respectively, transmission mechanism driven by said powershaft for moving said work support along said rail, reversing means between said power shaft and said transmission mechanism, elevating mechanism for said rail connected with said power shaft, and reversing means in said last mentioned mechanism for changing the direction of movement of said rail member independently of said first mentioned reversing means.

2. In a shaping machine having a main frame, a cross rail supported thereby and movable vertically therealong, and a work support translatably mounted upon said rail; power means for effecting movements of said cross rail and said work support, including a main power shaft, cross rail elevating transmission, and a work support translating transmission; an independently operable reversing mechanism in each of said transmissions for selectively effecting reversals thereof, and means for simultaneously changing the rate and direction of movement of said power shaft thereby simultaneously to vary the speed and direction of movement of said transmission mechanisms. r

3. In a shaping machine having a main frame, a tool carrier translatably mounted thereon, a cross rail translatably mounted on said frame, and a work support carried by said rail and adapted to be moved therealong; a main power transmission, individual branch line transmissions actuated from said main power transmission for translating said work on said rail support and for translating said rail on said frame, means to actuate said main power transmission in one direction at a high rate and'in the opposite direc-v moving said support horizontally in reverse directions; a main shaft for driving both of said last mentioned mechanisms, power means for imparting a predetermined rate of movement to said shaft in one direction and power means for imparting a different rate of movement to said shaft in the opposite direction, rate and direction control means for selectively rendering one of said power means effective, a control lever for one of said mechanisms adapted to indicate by its position the direction of movement to be imparted to said work-support when the said shaft is driven at one rate of speed, and a control lever for the other of said mechanisms adapted to'indicate by its position the direction of movement to be imparted tosaidwork-support when said shaft is driven at a diiferent rate of speed.

5. In a shaping machine having a frame, a tool carrier reciprooable horizontally thereon, power means for reciprocating said carrier, a cross-rail translatably mounted on said frame for movement'vetically thereon, and a work-support carriedby said rail and adapted for movement horizontally thereon; a power transmission mechanism for imparting a continuous movement selectively to either the'cross-rail or the work-support, power transmission mechanism for imparting intermittent movements selectively to either the rail or work-support elementsin timed relation with thereciprocations of the tool carrier, means including a controller device common to both of said transmission. mechanisms for rendering either transmission selectively effective to effect movement of either of said elements, and reversing means in said transmission mechanisms for changing the direction of movement of the element moved thereby.

6. In a shaping machine having a frame, a tool carrier reciprocable horizontally thereon, power means for reciprocating said carrier, a cross-rail translatably mounted on said frame for movement vertically thereon, and a work-support carried by said rail and adapted for movement horizontally thereon; a power transmission mechanism for imparting a continuous movement to the cross-rail or the work-support in one direction, power transmission .mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to the rail or work-support in the opposite direction, reversing means including a controller element common to both of said transmission mechanisms for rendering either of said transmissions effective, andreversing means in said transmission mechanisms for changing the direction of movement of the element moved thereby independently of said first mentioned reversing means. 7

7. In a shaping machine having a frame, a tool-carrier translatably mounted thereon, power means for translating said tool-carrier, a crossrail translatably mounted on said frame for movement toward and away from the plane of movement of said .tool-carrier, and a work-support carried by said cross-rail and adapted for translation therealong; power means for eifecting translatory movements of said cross-rail and work-support at rapid traverse rates, means for effecting intermittent movements of said crossrail and worlnsupport at a feeding rate, main control means for changing both the rate and direction of movement of said cross-rail and work-support, and auxiliary control means in each of said. cross-rail and work-support translating means for selectively and independently reversing the direction of movement of said ele 111611175.

8. In a shaping machine having a main frame, a horizontally reciprocable tool-support mounted thereon, a translatable work-support carried by said frame, and power means for reciprocating said tool support; a main power transmission, means for actuating said main power transmis sion selectively at hi hand'low speeds and in forward and reverse directions;,individual branch line transmissions receiving motion at high and low rates from said main power transmission for effecting respectively vertical and horizontal movements of said work-support at rapid traverse and feeding rates, a single manually actuable device for selectively rendering said main transmission operative at high and low speeds and for simultaneously changing its direction of operation, and a motion reverser in each of said branch line transmissions.

9. In a shaping machine having a main frame, a cross-rail vertically movable thereon and. a work-support mounted for horizontal movement on said cross-rail; a main power transmission, means selectively to give to said transmission high speed rotations or step-by-step slow speed rotations, a first branch line transmission actuated from said main transmission and connected to move said work-support on said cross-rail at a rate determined by said main transmission, a reverser in said branch line transmission for changing the direction of movement of said work-support, a second branch line transmission actuated by said main power transmission and connected to move said cross-rail vertically on said frame and a reverser in said second branch line transmission for changing the direction of movement of said cross-rail.

10. In a shaping machine having a main frame, a horizontally reciprocable tool-support mounted thereon, a translatable work-support carried by said frame, and movable horizontally and vertically relative thereto and power means for reciprocating said tool-support; a main power transmission, means selectively to give to said transmission high speed continuous rotations in one direction or step-by-step slow speed rotations in the opposite direction, individual branch line transmissions actuated from said main power transmission for effecting, respectively, vertical and horizontal movements of said work-support at rates determined by said main transmission, and a motion reverser in each of said branch line transmissions.

WILLIAM F. ZIMMERMANN. 

